Mobility service providers show travellers the future
It is estimated that by the year 2030 almost all travel customers will use some sort of mobile Information and Communication (I&C) device to handle their travel arrangements, independent of the larger computing devices such as PCs and laptops.
These devices will enable information to be gathered via wireless data exchanges and sensors, allowing transportation providers to develop new and innovative applications, particularly in the areas of planning, scheduling, information provision, ticketing and billing.
Dr. Jürgen Schneider, from Capgemini's Travel and Transport practice, considers the impact that this will have on the travel industry and describes the emergence of a new player in the market as a result, the Mobility Service Provider (MSP)....
In this future scenario, customers will book and buy their travel arrangements through mobile communication channels and devices, which are also where they will receive real-time information about their trip - scheduled arrival time, connection data, departure platforms, and more. Questions about connections and conditions at an upcoming destination can be answered through online, GPS-enabled sites that will customise the information in an easy, visually appealing format. Travellers will even be able to use the navigation functionality on their mobile devices to find their way through crowded stations, right to their booked seats. Constant, automatic updates and status of the traffic systems across all transportation providers will be available. Booking and ticketing operations will be done either automatically by the system or on demand, also through a mobile device.
In order to provide and sustain this sort of seamless travel experience to customers, several types of service provider will need to work together, bundling their offerings, to form what we are calling a Mobility Service Provider. By definition, an MSP is an entity that provides consumers with enhanced mobility through services and information throughout the travel chain, combining the services of several inter-modal transport companies as well as providers of other services, such as mobile, navigation, booking and financial.
Contributing parties in the MSP framework will all face common issues, such as cost of entry and engagement, data security, defining and setting common standards and keeping up with the ever-quickening pace of technological innovations but each group should stand to gain by its involvement in the process. A key question will be whether the primary service responsibilities of running the MSP will be handled by one of the member organisations or by a third party. It would appear that transportation providers (particularly air and rail) and online service providers are the best prepared to take over the lead MSP role. They already use a similar business model and processes and have long-standing experience in travel-related operations. Future travelers will look to MSPs as a one-stop-shop for their travel planning, so it is important that all the service providers involved find out how best to fit into the overall MSP network and do not get left behind.